Here's some video of the Chinese New Year's Eve fireworks.
The first is the view from our back balcony into the apartment courtyard. The second is the view out to the street. Hope they convey some of the noise, excitement, visuals, and fun of Chinese New Year in Shanghai.
Showing posts with label chinesenewyear. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chinesenewyear. Show all posts
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Friday, March 02, 2007
Chinese New Year - Postscript
I ran out of steam and never did a post for Feb 24, the last day of the Chinese New Year public holiday. Not much happened. We stayed at home. I finished up my Feb 23 blog post. We watched a movie.
I still have unprocessed video of the New Year's fireworks. Look for that in March.
I've also decided to take the Pig of the Day idea one step farther and have a photo for every day of the Year of the Pig. You can follow my efforts at this flickr set: Year of the Pig.
I still have unprocessed video of the New Year's fireworks. Look for that in March.
I've also decided to take the Pig of the Day idea one step farther and have a photo for every day of the Year of the Pig. You can follow my efforts at this flickr set: Year of the Pig.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Chinese New Year - Feb 23, 2007
The next to last day of the holiday. Many pigs were spotted. See the end of this post.
The weathernet promised clear skies and temps in the high 50's so about 11:00 AM we set off for Hongkou District where Sun-Ling grew up for some historic building viewing.
We hopped on bus #10, almost right in front of our apartment, which took us all the way to Lu Xun park in Hongkou. On the way we got a good look at Huai Hai Lu, People's Park, and North Sichuan Lu.
Pre-1939, the Hongkuo district had lots of residential housing - it was not a commercial district. There were many villas like these. You could almost imagine you were in Europe.
And many townhouses like these.
The weather was pleasant and old folks were soaking in the rays on Duolun Rd.
On Duolun Rd - the only church in Shanghai built in Chinese style architecture.
There were many cinema's in this district. Here's one, the International Cinema on Haining Lu.
417 Zhapu Lu - at the corner of Haining Lu. Sun-Ling's childhood home. Her family lived on the 3rd floor of the building at center right with the orange and blue first floor exterior. Their "space" also included the rooftop of the beige building next door which now has a small shed.
There was an historic movie theatre across the street; however, it no longer functions as a movie theatre, but is divided into an Internet Cafe, a disco, and several restaurants. The original facade is obscured by signage.
At the other end of the block was this fire station which is still used today - I think.
We stopped at Mr Pizza - almost underneath Sun-Ling's old home, for a veggie pizza. Later we stopped at the New Asia Hotel for a couple of Iced Coffees. Crossed Suzhou Creek, walked along the Bund, and rode the subway home.
There are a number of major historic buildings on the North side of Suzhou creek. We checked out all the ones in the photos below, including a quick peek in each lobby.
The Post Office, were Sun-Ling bought stamps for her stamp collection.
The Astor Hotel - since 1846.
Broadway Mansions Hotel and Waibaidu Bridge.
And some different views of the Pudong skyline. Well, the Pearl Tower remains the same but at least the foreground is different. ;-)
Ceramic pigs.
Hanging Pigs.
Giant Papercut Pigs.
more pig
and more pigs
The weathernet promised clear skies and temps in the high 50's so about 11:00 AM we set off for Hongkou District where Sun-Ling grew up for some historic building viewing.
We hopped on bus #10, almost right in front of our apartment, which took us all the way to Lu Xun park in Hongkou. On the way we got a good look at Huai Hai Lu, People's Park, and North Sichuan Lu.
Pre-1939, the Hongkuo district had lots of residential housing - it was not a commercial district. There were many villas like these. You could almost imagine you were in Europe.
And many townhouses like these.
The weather was pleasant and old folks were soaking in the rays on Duolun Rd.
On Duolun Rd - the only church in Shanghai built in Chinese style architecture.
There were many cinema's in this district. Here's one, the International Cinema on Haining Lu.
417 Zhapu Lu - at the corner of Haining Lu. Sun-Ling's childhood home. Her family lived on the 3rd floor of the building at center right with the orange and blue first floor exterior. Their "space" also included the rooftop of the beige building next door which now has a small shed.
There was an historic movie theatre across the street; however, it no longer functions as a movie theatre, but is divided into an Internet Cafe, a disco, and several restaurants. The original facade is obscured by signage.
At the other end of the block was this fire station which is still used today - I think.
We stopped at Mr Pizza - almost underneath Sun-Ling's old home, for a veggie pizza. Later we stopped at the New Asia Hotel for a couple of Iced Coffees. Crossed Suzhou Creek, walked along the Bund, and rode the subway home.
There are a number of major historic buildings on the North side of Suzhou creek. We checked out all the ones in the photos below, including a quick peek in each lobby.
The Post Office, were Sun-Ling bought stamps for her stamp collection.
The Astor Hotel - since 1846.
Broadway Mansions Hotel and Waibaidu Bridge.
And some different views of the Pudong skyline. Well, the Pearl Tower remains the same but at least the foreground is different. ;-)
Ceramic pigs.
Hanging Pigs.
Giant Papercut Pigs.
more pig
and more pigs
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Chinese New Year - Feb 22, 2007
A slower pace.
The fireworks and firecrackers kept us up past 1:00 AM. Sun-Ling was up early. I dozed until 9 or so.
With no real plan for the day, we had some breakfast and watched the weather. When it looked like the sun might come out, I headed to Lian Hua Rd Metro station to try to shoot a photo of the new CRH bullet train as it came through. Sun-ling headed to IKEA to buy some some food.
Limited success for me as one train came by from the north at 1:41 and one from the south at 1:52. It's hard to get a good photo of a bullet. ;-)
This bullet train, known as the CRH (China Railway High-speed), from Shanghai to Hangzhou, is actually two bullet trains hooked together as you can see in this series of "coming", "joined in the middle" and "going" photos.
Coming towards you.
Two joined in the middle.
Going away.
We met at home around 2:30 and set out again at 3:00 for more historic architecture viewing. Ho hum. Not much cool stuff today.
Here's one apartment building that caught my eye on XinHua Lu.
One of the historic villas, 483 XinHua Rd is now the Hai Fei Xuan tea house. Good place for a break. Sun-Ling had a Mango Milkshake and John had a Coffee Ice Cream Snowy (like a milk shake).
Here's the historic villa.
Check out the bird carved from melon rind in SL's shake.
Rode bus 946 home. Dinner at home. Watched movie "A Sigh" by the Chinese director Feng Xiaogang. Pretty good.
Pig of the Day.
The fireworks and firecrackers kept us up past 1:00 AM. Sun-Ling was up early. I dozed until 9 or so.
With no real plan for the day, we had some breakfast and watched the weather. When it looked like the sun might come out, I headed to Lian Hua Rd Metro station to try to shoot a photo of the new CRH bullet train as it came through. Sun-ling headed to IKEA to buy some some food.
Limited success for me as one train came by from the north at 1:41 and one from the south at 1:52. It's hard to get a good photo of a bullet. ;-)
This bullet train, known as the CRH (China Railway High-speed), from Shanghai to Hangzhou, is actually two bullet trains hooked together as you can see in this series of "coming", "joined in the middle" and "going" photos.
Coming towards you.
Two joined in the middle.
Going away.
We met at home around 2:30 and set out again at 3:00 for more historic architecture viewing. Ho hum. Not much cool stuff today.
Here's one apartment building that caught my eye on XinHua Lu.
One of the historic villas, 483 XinHua Rd is now the Hai Fei Xuan tea house. Good place for a break. Sun-Ling had a Mango Milkshake and John had a Coffee Ice Cream Snowy (like a milk shake).
Here's the historic villa.
Check out the bird carved from melon rind in SL's shake.
Rode bus 946 home. Dinner at home. Watched movie "A Sigh" by the Chinese director Feng Xiaogang. Pretty good.
Pig of the Day.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Chinese New Year - Feb 21
Year of the Pig: Day 4.
Plan: Forecast says a clearish day so we'll do another DIY walking your of historic buildings. Then, since it's the eve of the 5th day of the new year, we will stay up for midnight fireworks which traditionally welcome the God of Fortune/Wealth. These fireworks will rival the New Year's Eve fireworks in intensity but not duration.
Once again the Metro was full of people with gift bags and baskets. Here's a shot I took while waiting to get on the train in the Xujiahui Station. Notice the big glass doors/barriers for safety and crowd control.
Another nice winter day. Old folks were sitting in the sun. This lady was looking for a good spot to catch some rays.
We wandered around looking at old buildings. Actually it's not wandering. Sun-Ling has done some great research.
Some "soon to be renovated" historic apartments on Jianguo Rd.
The doorway of the Anting Apartments.
Greenish pre-1949 modernista home.
We popped into an antique store and bought a table for our apartment -- 100 RMB including delivery.
Stopped in Senses restaurant for a latte and cappuccino.
We ended up near Sun-Ling's Grandfather's (on father's side) younger sister's house. We call her Little Grandma. And after a call to Ma to get the exact street, we stopped in. Little Grandma's daughter and son-in-law were there and we had a good visit with lots of snacks: pistachios, tangerines, candied walnuts, candied hickory nuts, Picnic candy bars from Australia, various seeds, and hot tea. Forgot to take a group photo.
Just around the corner from Little Grandma's house was this meat shop.
Took a taxi home.
The fireworks were again more than awesome. The restaurant across the street let off a barrage. And our neighbors in the courtyard made some of the loudest noise I've ever heard. Wow!
I've been experimenting with my camera settings in an attempt to get some better fireworks shots.
From our courtyard balcony.
From our Nandan Rd balcony.
Towards Gateway Towers.
Pigs of the Day.
Plan: Forecast says a clearish day so we'll do another DIY walking your of historic buildings. Then, since it's the eve of the 5th day of the new year, we will stay up for midnight fireworks which traditionally welcome the God of Fortune/Wealth. These fireworks will rival the New Year's Eve fireworks in intensity but not duration.
Once again the Metro was full of people with gift bags and baskets. Here's a shot I took while waiting to get on the train in the Xujiahui Station. Notice the big glass doors/barriers for safety and crowd control.
Another nice winter day. Old folks were sitting in the sun. This lady was looking for a good spot to catch some rays.
We wandered around looking at old buildings. Actually it's not wandering. Sun-Ling has done some great research.
Some "soon to be renovated" historic apartments on Jianguo Rd.
The doorway of the Anting Apartments.
Greenish pre-1949 modernista home.
We popped into an antique store and bought a table for our apartment -- 100 RMB including delivery.
Stopped in Senses restaurant for a latte and cappuccino.
We ended up near Sun-Ling's Grandfather's (on father's side) younger sister's house. We call her Little Grandma. And after a call to Ma to get the exact street, we stopped in. Little Grandma's daughter and son-in-law were there and we had a good visit with lots of snacks: pistachios, tangerines, candied walnuts, candied hickory nuts, Picnic candy bars from Australia, various seeds, and hot tea. Forgot to take a group photo.
Just around the corner from Little Grandma's house was this meat shop.
Took a taxi home.
The fireworks were again more than awesome. The restaurant across the street let off a barrage. And our neighbors in the courtyard made some of the loudest noise I've ever heard. Wow!
I've been experimenting with my camera settings in an attempt to get some better fireworks shots.
From our courtyard balcony.
From our Nandan Rd balcony.
Towards Gateway Towers.
Pigs of the Day.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Chinese New Year - Feb 20
Today is the 3rd day of the Year of the Pig. The plan: Lunch with Sun-Ling's father's relatives. Try to shoot a photo of the new CRH bullet train. Catch the new 007 movie with Sun-Ling's nephews. Dinner out.
Made it to the 11:30 lunch on time today. Again, most people on the Metro were carrying a gift bag or basket. I managed to sneak a shot.
There were two tables for today's banquet. Eating. Talking. Toasting. Etc.
Packing the leftovers. Grandmother and Beckham. Who knows?
The lunch lasted until 1:30 so I missed my chance to photograph the CRH train. Maybe tomorrow.
We rode the Metro back to XuJiaHui. Sun-Ling's father's older brother, his children and grandchildren, who were all at lunch, met us at our apartment.
Father's older brother's family.
After a short visit, we took the two grandchildren - boys ages 16 and 15 - to see the new 007 movie, Casino Royale, which we all liked. Chinese refer to Casino Royale as the new "007" (ling ling chi) movie, not the new "James Bond" movie. I guess the numbers are easier to pronounce.
Gino's was the next stop for lasagna, spaghetti, and pizza; finally put the boys on the Metro about 8:30 PM. They are good eaters. Good kids.
Pigs of the Day.
Hapig New Year ;-) poster seen in at Gino's bakery.
From a poster in a bank.
Made it to the 11:30 lunch on time today. Again, most people on the Metro were carrying a gift bag or basket. I managed to sneak a shot.
There were two tables for today's banquet. Eating. Talking. Toasting. Etc.
Packing the leftovers. Grandmother and Beckham. Who knows?
The lunch lasted until 1:30 so I missed my chance to photograph the CRH train. Maybe tomorrow.
We rode the Metro back to XuJiaHui. Sun-Ling's father's older brother, his children and grandchildren, who were all at lunch, met us at our apartment.
Father's older brother's family.
After a short visit, we took the two grandchildren - boys ages 16 and 15 - to see the new 007 movie, Casino Royale, which we all liked. Chinese refer to Casino Royale as the new "007" (ling ling chi) movie, not the new "James Bond" movie. I guess the numbers are easier to pronounce.
Gino's was the next stop for lasagna, spaghetti, and pizza; finally put the boys on the Metro about 8:30 PM. They are good eaters. Good kids.
Pigs of the Day.
Hapig New Year ;-) poster seen in at Gino's bakery.
From a poster in a bank.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Chinese New Year - Feb 19
The weather forecast was for clear skies. No family activities were planned So our plan for the day was to check out some of the historic buildings in Shanghai on a DIY walking tour.
First stop was at Gateway Towers to buy tickets for tomorrow's 4:30 showing of the latest 007 movie. We are taking Sun-Ling's nephews (the sons of two of her cousins). While waiting for SL to buy the tickets I took this shot of the mall dome with the red lanterns.
As we walked along Huai Hai Lu in the Embassy/Consulate District, the streets seemed almost deserted. The even the normally kinetic street sweepers were relaxing.
The Consulate Guards were out for a walk on a winter's day.
The famous Normandie Apartments - at left.
The famous Empire Mansions (apartments).
24 Fuxing Xi Lu (Magy Apartment) faces the corner. A super Art Deco building. One of my new favorites.
Willow Court (apartments) - the yellow building at right-back.
We made two pit stops today. First at 1:30 for iced coffees, onion rings, fried noodles,and deep fried rice balls. And again about 4:30 for 2 coffee milkshakes. Yum!
Home at 5:30. SL made a tasty spicy Thai stir-fry.
Evening: I worked on uploading photos to Flickr and writing this post.Sun-Ling watched Million Dollar Baby. We were both interrupted several times by more fireworks in the courtyard. Fun!
Pigs of the Day.
McDonald's poster by a bus stop.
Poster on the door of a restaurant.
First stop was at Gateway Towers to buy tickets for tomorrow's 4:30 showing of the latest 007 movie. We are taking Sun-Ling's nephews (the sons of two of her cousins). While waiting for SL to buy the tickets I took this shot of the mall dome with the red lanterns.
As we walked along Huai Hai Lu in the Embassy/Consulate District, the streets seemed almost deserted. The even the normally kinetic street sweepers were relaxing.
The Consulate Guards were out for a walk on a winter's day.
The famous Normandie Apartments - at left.
The famous Empire Mansions (apartments).
24 Fuxing Xi Lu (Magy Apartment) faces the corner. A super Art Deco building. One of my new favorites.
Willow Court (apartments) - the yellow building at right-back.
We made two pit stops today. First at 1:30 for iced coffees, onion rings, fried noodles,and deep fried rice balls. And again about 4:30 for 2 coffee milkshakes. Yum!
Home at 5:30. SL made a tasty spicy Thai stir-fry.
Evening: I worked on uploading photos to Flickr and writing this post.Sun-Ling watched Million Dollar Baby. We were both interrupted several times by more fireworks in the courtyard. Fun!
Pigs of the Day.
McDonald's poster by a bus stop.
Poster on the door of a restaurant.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Chinese New Year's Day - Feb 18
Xing Nian Hao! Gong Xi Fa Cai!
After finally falling asleep around 2:00 AM, I awoke around 6:30 to the booming sound of more fireworks. I suspect that the cleanup crews were firing off unspent shells. Who knows? I put in my ear plugs and went back to sleep.
Sun-Ling was up at 8:30 and took this photo of fireworks cleanup in our courtyard.
We got up at 9:30 and I could tell that we would be late for a 11:30 lunch banquet hosted by Sun-Ling's mother's cousin.
By noon we had straightened up the apartment, drunk some coffee, stuffed a small backpack with red packets for the nieces, toy trucks for the nephews, gifts for Sun-Ling's Aunts, showered and dressed, and were in a taxi to the restaurant.
Two tables. Toasting. Eating.
The younger generation toasts Sun-Ling's parents. [The beer is only for Sun-Ling's dad. ;-)]
The oldest generations.
The food.
At 2:30 we headed to Grandmother's younger sister's apartment to visit her and her children. Snacks!
On the way to the Metro we ran into our old fruit vendor, Mr. Liu, from when we lived at LuoXiu Lu. He was selling holiday fruit baskets and boxes on a busy corner. It was great to see him and wish him a Happy New Year. That's him standing next to Sun-Ling.
Then back to XujiaHui to search for Pig of the Day. We have a winner and runner-up.
Exhausted, we headed back to our apartment for a nap.
After some traditional Nian Gao (new year rice cake) tofu and mushroom soup for dinner, we watched a movie Perfume: The Story of a Murderer and went to bed.
After finally falling asleep around 2:00 AM, I awoke around 6:30 to the booming sound of more fireworks. I suspect that the cleanup crews were firing off unspent shells. Who knows? I put in my ear plugs and went back to sleep.
Sun-Ling was up at 8:30 and took this photo of fireworks cleanup in our courtyard.
We got up at 9:30 and I could tell that we would be late for a 11:30 lunch banquet hosted by Sun-Ling's mother's cousin.
By noon we had straightened up the apartment, drunk some coffee, stuffed a small backpack with red packets for the nieces, toy trucks for the nephews, gifts for Sun-Ling's Aunts, showered and dressed, and were in a taxi to the restaurant.
Two tables. Toasting. Eating.
The younger generation toasts Sun-Ling's parents. [The beer is only for Sun-Ling's dad. ;-)]
The oldest generations.
The food.
At 2:30 we headed to Grandmother's younger sister's apartment to visit her and her children. Snacks!
On the way to the Metro we ran into our old fruit vendor, Mr. Liu, from when we lived at LuoXiu Lu. He was selling holiday fruit baskets and boxes on a busy corner. It was great to see him and wish him a Happy New Year. That's him standing next to Sun-Ling.
Then back to XujiaHui to search for Pig of the Day. We have a winner and runner-up.
Exhausted, we headed back to our apartment for a nap.
After some traditional Nian Gao (new year rice cake) tofu and mushroom soup for dinner, we watched a movie Perfume: The Story of a Murderer and went to bed.
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